Improvement in wardrobe-bedsteads



s. s. BURR. WARDROBE BEDSTEAD.

N 179,-513, Patented July 4,1876.

Witnesses.

KPETERS. PHDTO LITHOGRAFHER,'WASNINQTON D C.

UNITED STATES SANFORD S. BURR, OF DEDHAM, MASSACHUSETTS.

IMPROVEMENT IN WARDROBE-BEDSTEADS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 179,513, dated July 4, 1876; application filed February 2, 1876.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SANFORD S. BURR, of Dedham, Norfolk county, Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Beds, which improvements are fully set forth in the following specification, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to the folding of suspension-beds; and consists in providing a flexible or elastic suspension bed-bottom with a jointed frame, whereby the bed may be so folded as to reduce its length or width, and at the same timerelax the tension of the springs which form or support the bed-bottom also, in the combination of an inclosing-case with a folding suspension bed-bottom, whereby the tension upon the bed-bottom is relaxed when folded, and the entire space within the case may be devoted to the storage of bed and bedding.

Heretofore, in the construction of folding beds, it has been customary to use springs which had a vertical play when in ordinary use. This arrangement demands an amount of space in the folding case equal to twice the yield of the springs, for when the ends are turned up' in folding the bed the spring-space, which before was beneath the bed, is found at each side thereof, between the sides of theinclosing case and the mattress or bedding inclosed. The objects of my invention are to economize this space and relieve the springs from undue tension.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of myimproved bed open for use. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same closed. Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the center of the closed bed. Fig. 4 is an inner View of one end of the base and its attachments.

A is the bed-bottom suspended by its ends from the cross-rails at the head and foot of the frame, and formed of woven or linked wire, or other suitable elastic or flexible material. If flexible only, it should be provided with springs at one or both ends, yielding horizontally, by which it is attached to the end pieces of the-frame, which method I have found in practice to be eminently satisfactory. 'Band 0 represent, respectively, the head and foot sections of the jointed frame, which are pivoted to the base D in any proper manner. It is important that these pivots be made very strong, and that they be located nearly in the same horizontal plane as the bed-bottom, otherwise extreme difliculty would be found in obtaining adequate power to give tension to the springs in opening the bed, and there would be a tendency of the ends to rise under the power of the springs. But with the great leverage obtained by locating the pivot just below the plane of the bedbottom a few pounds downward pressure on the foot or head of the frame, after the other end has been let down, will be sufficient to give the necessary tension to the bed-bottom, and this tension, with the consequent tendency of the ends of the bed-frame to rise, aids in folding the bed until the tension is relaxed.

The arrangement which I prefer forpivotingthe sections B and G to the base D is shown in Fig. 4, in which E E represent inclined grooves in the base or in a casting attached thereto. A pivot projects outwardly from each side of the two sections B O ofthe frame at their inner ends, and each pivot engages in one of the inclined grooves E E in the base D, and forms a fulcrum for the lever B or 0. With this construction the sections B and O can be removed from the base, and slipped one partially within the other for convenience in transportation before the bed-bottom has been attached. The pivots may, of course, permanently connect the two sections to the base, if desired. A hinged block, F, at one or both ends of the base, serves as a check to prevent either of the sections from closing prematurely, as the upper edge of the block fits snugly beneath the lower edge of the pivoted sections B and C, so that they cannot turn upon their pivots until the block is removed. It is operated by a rod or cord, Gr. Instead of this arrangement a rotating arm, a hook, or other equivalent means, may be employed to accomplish the same result. The head and foot of the sections B and Care each provided with legs or other supports, which may be folded out of the way. The headboard H may be hinged to the end piece of section B, so as to drop between .the sections when folded, or to rest upon the end piece of section 0 with more or less of inclination to give it the appearance of a writing-desk. The front of the case is properly paneled or carved to represent doors, drawers, &c., and the rear of the case ma be closed entirely or left partially open. The two sections of the case are hooked or otherwise secured to each other.

I claim as of my invention-- 1. A folding or wardrobe bedstead,-con taining a flexible and elastic bed-bottom, supported within the case by its ends only, leaving sufficient unobstructed space beneath the mattress for the elastic requirements of the bed when spread for use, and permitting the bed-bottom and the bedding thereon to occupy such unobstructed space within the case when folded, substantially as specified.

2. The combination, with a flexible bed-bot- SANFORD S. BURR.

Witnesses: I

A. H. SPENCER, E. A. PHELPS. 

